LITHUANIA: Euro area within reach

LITHUANIA
In July 2014 the EU Council will most likely approve Lithuania’s admission to the euro area, since the country fulfils all Maastricht criteria. For 2014 we expect GDP growth to rise to 3.6% and to further accelerate slightly in 2015 and 2016. An upswing of external demand this year and in 2015 and ongoing flourishing household consumption driven by strong wage developments bolster economic activity. From 2015 onwards public investments will provide
for an additional impulse.